Between the lists of trendy first names, the projections from L’Officiel des Noms 2026 and data from INSEE, a male profile slips discreetly among the favorites: a Hebrew first name which evokes solidity and constancy, promised to make a strong comeback in the Top 20 births in France. In the rankings announced for 2025, Gabriel, Raphaël and Léo occupy the lead, but this candidate already ticks all the boxes of first names that last.
This first name is Ethan. According to Stéphanie Rapoport, author of L’Officiel des Noms, Ethan will be one of the popular male first names in the coming years. Of Hebrew origin, it comes from the word “Eitan” which can mean “strong”, “firm” or “robust”, a meaning often summarized by “solid” and “constant”, and refers in the Bible to Ethan the Ezrahite of Psalm 89. Ethan entered the French top 20 in 2007, while there were 1,858 births in 2023 and a peak of 4,801 in 2012.
Why the name Ethan still appeals to parents
Boys named Ethan are reliable and protective children, who can be counted on, but also like real electric batteries, dynamic and enthusiastic, capable of sitting down to listen to their loved ones. This image of a reassuring ally fits the meaning of its first name and its format: a short first name, easy to pronounce in several languages, which speaks to both traditional families and parents looking for a modern choice.
Spelling variations such as Etan, Eitan, Ethann or Etane, offer a small degree of customization while remaining close to the most common form. In fact, the published figures show that Ethan has established itself permanently in the landscape: even below its 2012 record, remaining around two thousand births per year places it among the well-established male first names.
Ethan and the Top 20: what the Official First Names 2026 and INSEE say
The rankings of L’Officiel of first names place Gabriel, Raphaël and Léo on the podium for 2025, and announce that Ethan is one of the popular male first names in 2026. For their part, the projected lists based on L’Officiel of first names 2026, mainly cite short and international first names like Gabriel, Noah, Adam or Liam, without necessarily including Ethan in the list. Top 20.
This divergence reminds us that these rankings remain forecasts, based on recent trends rather than definitive figures. The INSEE first name file specifies that the annual numbers are rounded to the multiple of 5, but above all confirms the order of magnitude: with nearly 1,900 births in 2023 and a peak of just over 4,800 in 2012, Ethan has remained at the top of the table for more than a decade.
Ethan, a solid choice for the years to come?
For parents who want a biblical, international and proven first name, Ethan appears to be a reassuring compromise: classic enough to stand the test of time, modern enough not to seem dated, with birth numbers which suggest that he will remain placed, even without a guarantee of a Top 20.